Out of Bounds: Best Madden Innovations

[TheWatcher]

Quote: Originally Posted by RaiderKtulu

And there was an NFL game on the NES in 1989 (same year as the first Madden computer game) that was also 11 on 11: http://nesguide.com/games/nflfootball/

Perhaps the worst football game ever made. The only other one I'd put up there would be Touchdown Football for 7800, which was coincidentally developed by EA.

[TheWatcher]

Quote: Originally Posted by Rocky

I don't know if this is more ironic or sad, but I would list Madden's commentary back in Madden '93 and '94 as a major innovation for it's time.

Yeah, and even the level of innovation with that is questionable, because the Joe Montana Sportstalk series commentary blew that away. The commentary in Montana was flowing play-by-play, while Madden's was just "Boom", and "Where'd that truck come from" and a few words from Pat. I know they tend to say they were the first with commentary, but it was a lame effort compared to its competition.

[RaiderKtulu]

Quote: Originally Posted by TheWatcher

Yeah, and even the level of innovation with that is questionable, because the Joe Montana Sportstalk series commentary blew that away. The commentary in Montana was flowing play-by-play, while Madden's was just "Boom", and "Where'd that truck come from" and a few words from Pat. I know they tend to say they were the first with commentary, but it was a lame effort compared to its competition.

Just goes to show that being first doesn't really matter. As much as some people may enjoy bashing EA, doing it for "not innovating" is rather pointless. They weren't the first to use 3d player models either - Gameday did that, but when both games went from ps1 to ps2, Madden's graphics made Gameday look silly.

EA doesn't really need to be innovative with Madden, they just need to implement the right things from other games and improve on them.

[charter04]

It's funny how everyone wants Madden to be so inovative and change everything. The only way that could happen is if they had 2 to 3 years to work on a game, like non-sports games get. Some 5 to 10 years and they still suck. Why would EA take that long when they will make lots of money every year as long as people keep buying it. I buy Madden every year, so I am not hating on Madden. I would be will to get a new game every 3 years or so with year roster DLC, if it meant getting the game we all want. I think I am in the minority though and that is the problem. Backbreaker is headed in the right direction but how long did they work on it and still failed in so many areas. If they had to release a game yearly since 1989 I bet it would not be what it is or even be a game at all. We can knock EA all we want but they are a company and for a company the bottom line is more important than making hard core fans happy.

[nasatate]

Madden can still come out on a yearly basis. Look at what Activision does with COD. Releases it every year with different developers every year. I think the best idea is to have two development teams rotating each year so that the quality doesnt get sacrificed.

[charter04]

Making a FPS like that is a less of a task than Madden. Even MW2 Had so many mulitplayer problems. Making a game play like real life with 22 players on the feild at the same time and including all the other things people want is harder. For one thing I want off-line dynasty to be great. How many others, as far as percentage, even care about that. I here people crying for better Be Superstar Mode. I could care less about that. Some just care about the play on the field. There just seems to be way to much to get right if you bring out a game every year. Unless you get the foundation right to start and then build on that. Because EA has went from Sega to PS1 to PS2 to next gen systems they have not been able to, or have been unwilling to start from scratch on the foundation. 2k got that part right and they where able to build on that. I just don't think you can completely start from scratch on a game engine in one year. NBA elite is doing it, but they had to reach the point of such desparation, because of sales. NHL 11 is sort of doing it, but I don't think they had to scratch everything. We will see how it works for NBA Elite. If things go well with it maybe it will for EA to put the guy in charge of NHL and NBA elite over the Madden franchise. I think he could really do the job.

[Skyliner80]

Quote: Originally Posted by Rocky

I don't know if this is more ironic or sad, but I would list Madden's commentary back in Madden '93 and '94 as a major innovation for it's time.

I think the Joe Montana Sportstalk Football series has something to say about that.

[Skyliner80]

Personally, I thought the 'hit-stick' was introduced pretty well. Where the he'll did it go? I mean it doesn't feel like a feature in Madden games anymore. I assume it's not even in the game since there's no label on the control scheme. I also used to love the 'strip' button. Loved how randomly effective or penalizing it would be.